BLACK HAWK - Housing authorities are typically created to provide affordable housing for low-income families, individuals, the elderly, or people with disabilities.

But in Black Hawk, on July 9 of this year, the City Council passed Resolution 35, creating a housing authority (consisting of the same people as the Council) to rehabilitate and monitor their historic houses. They received 33 signatures of the 25 required in a petition.

They will also use the authority to enforce and regulate any substandard conditions. They cited the reasons for the authority as unsafe housing, aging structures, and inadequate facilities.

On September 10, the City held their first Housing Authority meeting before the regular City Council session. They approved measures establishing the Authority’s structure and funding with an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City.

Then during the regular meeting, they gave the green light for a major rehabilitation project at 150 Chase Street, totaling well over a million dollars.

Housing authority formed

Mayor David Spellman opened the meeting by recognizing its unusual format. “For today’s meeting, we are atypical from the way we open our council meetings, because we are going to convene now as the City of Black Hawk Housing Authority at 3 o'clock,” he said.

Resolution 2025-01 formally designated the City’s website as the official public place for posting Housing Authority notices, with City Hall as an additional location.

The Housing Authority then passed Resolution 2025-02, approving an IGA with the City of Black Hawk to provide funding. 

City Attorney Corey Hoffman explained, “What this agreement does is it provides funding for the Housing Authority. It provides funding for this year. And thereafter, it contemplates funding derived from the City’s, the portion of the sales tax of the City, that is for general governmental purposes.”

Resolution 2025-03, adopting bylaws, was also approved. Hoffman said the bylaws ensure a clear record of decisions, saying, “It allows the Housing Authority to have resolutions so that if anyone says, what’s the Housing Authority done, you just have to pull the resolutions, and that’s where all the actions are.”

Council adopts funding

The regular City Council meeting followed at 3:04 p.m. No agenda changes or conflicts of interest were reported.

Public comment included the introduction of new Chief Building Official Alejandro Pantoja, who joins Black Hawk through SafeBuilt, a consulting firm providing inspection and permitting services.

Pantoja will be the go-to official for building inspections, code enforcement, and permitting in Black Hawk, though technically he remains employed by SafeBuilt, rather than being salaried by the City.

The Council then heard Council Bill 9, adopting the same IGA as the housing authority. 

Hoffman explained, “For calendar year 2025, the City would budget and appropriate, and there will be a subsequent budget amendment, $1.6 million for the remainder of 2025. And then moving forward, on an annual basis, what is contemplated is that the City will budget and appropriate up to the total amount generated from 2% of the City’s sales tax.”

No public comments were made in support or disapproval of the bill, and it passed unanimously.

Spellman noted, “So, this will be interesting when we have a Black Hawk Housing Authority meeting, a local liquor licensing authority, and a City Council. We can wear three hats at one meeting.”

Chase Street project

Resolution 56-2025 approved Amendment No. 2 to the construction contract with WCG Construction for Phase II of the rehabilitation project at 150 Chase Street, at a cost not to exceed $1,561,864.91. 

The work includes stabilization, roof replacement, restoration of historic features, and installation of modern utilities while retaining the historic character.

Resolutions 57-2025 and 58-2025 formalized the property’s rehabilitation grant and historic preservation easement. Hoffman explained that the easement reflects the City’s portion of costs, while the rehabilitation grant is taxable income for the property owner.

Resolution 59-2025 acknowledged the property’s legal nonconforming status, saying it remains within setback limits even after a planned relocation to improve drainage.

All resolutions passed unanimously.

The meeting concluded with an executive session focused on potential legislation concerning short-term rentals and land development options for the Briggs Lot.

The next regular Black Hawk City Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 3 p.m. and can be attended in person at 211 Church Street.